Method of regulating firing-fluid delivery to pneumatic guns



(No Model.)

, E. L. ZAL-INSKI. METHOD OF REGULATING FIRING FLUID DELIVERY TOPNEUMATIC GUNS- No. 430,101. I PatentedJune 10,1890.

WITNESSES. IINVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE;

EDMUND L. ZALINSKI, OF FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF REGULATING FIRING-FLUID DELIVERY TO PNEUMATIC GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,101, dated June 10,1890.

Application filed December 11, 1888. Serial No. 293,301 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND L. ZALINSKI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Hamilton, county of Kings, State of New York haveinvented new and useful Improvements in the Method of Regulating Firing-Fluid Delivery to Pneumatic Guns, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the delivery of compressed elastic fluid fromthe reservoir to the gun-barrel of a pneumatic gun in controlledquantities for determining the range of the projectile at a given angleof gun elevation. The variability of the firing-valve capacity hasheretofore been limited within the scope attainable by the variableperiod of 1ts opening; and the object of this inventron is to extend thesaid variability by varymg the capacity of the firing-valve at itsmaxlmum open position.

The invention therefore consists in throttling the firing-fluid passageor pipe controlled by the firing-valve and conducting from thecompressed-fluid storage-reservoir to the gunbarrel by means of anadjustable throttlevalve adapted therefor.

The invention also consists in throttling the said passage or pipevariably during the period of firing-valve opening, namely: so as toadmit a moderate charge of the firing-fluid at the initial opening ofthe firing-valve and the full normal charge after the inertia of theprojectile has been partly overcome. The opening of the throttle-valveis retained by any suitable means at various points permanently orvariably during the act of firing.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to understand and use the same,I will proceed to describe oneform of apparatus by which the method herein may be carried intopractice, and to point out in the appended claims that which I claim asnew.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa part of the gun-barrel, the firing-valve casing, one form ofthrottle-valve applicable to the invention, and the reservoir of apneumatic gun; and Fig. 2, a similar view comprising additionalappliances to show one means of carrying out the method of variablethrottling.

A is the firing-fluid reservoir, B the gunbarrel, and C theconnecting-pipe, of a pneumatic gun.

D represents the firing-valve casing in end view. The firing-valve maybe any valve used in this class of guns. The valve controls the passageof air from the pipe 0 to the gun-barrel B in usual manner.

E, Fig. 1, is the throttle-valve for throttling the pipe 0, and isoperated and retained at any point by such form of mechanism as may 'befound suitable to hold it securely in position-as, for instance, a screwconnected to or forming a part of the valve-stem.

The end of the valve E exposed to the inflowing current is preferablyconstructed of cone form, whereby the force of the fluid is receivedupon inclined surfaces and divided, and also whereby the differentadjusted distances of the valve from its seat 0 may the more graduallygovern its amount of opening at different points. The valve E may beentirelv, closed upon said seat 0 to serve the function of a stop-valvewhen the gun is out of action.

F, Fig. 2, is an actuating-piston connected to the valve E to thrust itto the maximum opening, to which it maybe limited for throttling whenpressure is applied in chamber 61, the chamber e being free frompressure by the opening f.

G is an adjusting-wheel longitudinally stationary in the bearin g K,determining the position of the sleeve H, to which the wheel isthreaded, and I a spring of sufficient strength to resist the pressureagainst the valve E of the fluid-current in the pipe 0. The valvestem, Jslides loose in the sleeve H, and is held longitudinally therein(subject to movement on compression of the spring I) by the collars gand h affixed thereto.

Pressure is applied to chamber d through pipe 2' automatically, when theusual gascheck at the butt of the projectile in the barrel B has reachedthe point of said pipes connection. This admits the firing-fluidpressure tothe piston F, and, overcoming the spring I, forces open thethrottle-valve E from a partly-open position as indicated in Fig. 2, tothe extent of the spring compression, or the point of maximum openinggiven, which latter may be adjusted by the screw H. The firing-fluidwill therefore be applied moderately to the projectile atits initialmovement, and the full force of said fluid be imparted gradually,obviating the danger arising from a too sudden blow of pressure upon theprojectile when highly-sensitive explosives are used in the latter forsubsequent explosion.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the specificmeans shown for carrying the methods into practice, said means beingreserved for the subject of future appli cations, and whereas themethods herein may be accomplished by various forms of throttling-valvesor valve-operating appliances; but

I claim, broadly, as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent- 1. The method of controlling the delivering capacity of apneumatic firing-valve, which consists in throttling the passage leadingto said valve, and opening the throttle automatically by means ofgas-pressure from that side of the firing-valve whichis toward the gunafter said firing-valve is open.

2. The method of controlling the gas-supply to the firing-valve of apneumatic gun,

which consists in reducing the supply of gas to the firing-valve untilsaid valve is fully open, then increasing the gas-supply while thefiring-valve remains open by means of a pressure from the gun-barrel,substantially as described.

, 3. The method of regulating firing-fluid delivery to pneumatic guns,consisting of timing the period of said fluid-delivery by means of anautomatic pressure -actuated firingvalve, determining the volume of saidfluid delivered during said period by throttling the passage controlledby said firing-valve, and partly (or wholly) releasing the throttlingaction during the said period of delivery by applying an openingactuating-pressure of the firing-fluid to a throttling-Valveintercepting the said passage at a period subsequent to the initialmovement of the projectile, as by a pipe connecting to an intermediatepoint of the gun-barrel.

EDMUND L. ZALINSKI. lVitnesses:

CHAS. W. FoRBEs, JOHN A. ELLIS.

